Return to the Blog
Boy, it has been quite a while since I updated this. So much has happened, including my journey into the world of musical theater. I did Carousel earlier this year, then starred in Frankenstein: A New Musical, and now a leading role in Aida. This is probably the most physically challenging role for me yet, as the dancing rehearsals have just begun and they are already killing me. The legs are sore to say the least. I’m confident, however, that I will do well. The acting is a bit tougher as well, as I am now playing the role of the “bad guy”. This has been a great experience so far, and I expect it to get even better.
To follow my new musical career, I have set up a page on the site called theater. Hope some of you can come!
Design for The Tome: Dili
I finally finished the design for the realm of Dili that will be the location for the first chapter of The Tome, an RPG Maker XP project. Here it is:
DILI
Overview: Before the stealing of the dreaded Tome, Dili was a lush, green country with rolling hills and beautiful trees and foliage. Now, the forest creatures have turned on the nature-loving inhabitants, and the once green forests have become dark and treacherous. Good remains in Dili, however, and the power of the great magical warriors who reside in the land keep the evil in the world from penetrating Dili too deeply. Therefore, there are still safe havens in this realm.
Landscape: Mostly forests and hills. The Great Dili Forest dominates the land to the West. To the East, the Dili hills stretch along the coastline overlooking the Besni Bay. The narrow Enochi River flows from the bay and splits off, part of it going to the south through the Sari Sanctuary where it becomes the Talro Creek, and the other half following along the northern border of the Dili Forest. Though it is relatively easy to get around on foot in the realm, travel is hindered to the Northwest by the Thulu Mountains.
Major Settlements: There are two major settlements in Dili; the city of Limpai is the capitol of the realm and is the home of the ruler King Jemamir. To the south on the border of the Dili Forest is Sari Sanctuary, the dwelling place of the mystical warriors the Lelani, the guardians of the dreaded Tome. To the East on a lonely peninsula are the Ruins of Meli, a once great city that fell during the first battle for the Tome. Some humans are said to still dwell there. In addition to these settlements, it is whispered that there are secret places in Dili where other folk dwell who wish not to be discovered.
The Folk: Humans dwell in Limpai, mostly traders and fisherman who depend on the Lema Bay as a source of trade and fish. They tend to have larger frames (due to much physical labor) and have dark hair and eyes. They are generally friendly and good-natured and will treat strangers and travelers with fairness and respect.
The Lelani are a great and ancient warrior race who have sworn to protect the Evil Tome. They have pale skin and bright eyes, usually blue or green. Their hair varies from silvery white to shades of blue-black, but seldom brown or red. As per their agreement with the Great Spirit Syrille, these brave people have protected the Tome from the hands of evildoers for generations, and their failure has weighed heavily on their morale. Many of them have left the Sari Sanctuary in disgrace, and those who remain prepare for almost certainly doomed attempts to reclaim the Tome.
The Law: Although King Jemamir is the ruler, he depends heavily on the Lelani for the protection of the realm. Rarely venturing outside the Sanctuary, the law is enforced by the Lelani by a magic spell cast over the land, protecting the life that dwells in the forests and hills. Indeed, those who have been to Dili have claimed that a dream-like peace had fallen over them upon entering the land. The effects even extend to the beast and wildlife of the land. After the stealing of the Tome however, this spell has broken while the Lelani turn their attentions elsewhere.
Anda Woodland
Even before the theft of the dreaded Tome the Anda Woodlands held many dangers. Even the great magic of the Lelani could not quell the dark hearts of the innermost inhabitants of the Anda. These denizens of the woods are often a nuisance to the people of Limpai, and many would-be explorers from the city have disappeared into its dark depths, never to return.
Besney Bay
The Besney bay lies to the east of Dili, and it is said that explorers who landed there centuries ago were the ones who would eventually become the Lelani. Before the Lelani cast their spell of peace, the waters of the Bay were the home of bloodthirsty pirates. After the Tome was taken, great jagged rocks sprang from the waters off the coastline and sightings of ghostly ships on the waters keep sailors, fishing boats and trading ships away.
Coble Cave
Hidden deep in the Dili Hills, this cave is the largest and deepest of all of the passageways in the area. It has been the site of many strange happenings, and adventurers try to avoid entering it, lest they become lost within its dark depths.
Dili Hills
An area of highlands lies to the Southeast of Dili known as the Dili Hills. This has been a favorite site for sportsman and adventurers due to a number of caves and tunnels for exploration. It is said that the caves of Dili Hills were used by pirates roaming the Besney Bay to hide their stolen loot, though few have ever actually found anything. Few travel there anymore, for after the stealing of the Tome, there have been some who have reported seeing the spirits of these buccaneers lost roaming the hills, presumably guarding their hidden booty.
Enochi River
The Enochi River is located in Dili, and stretches from the Besney Bay west above the Dili Forest, and forks south past the Sari Sanctuary where it dwindles and becomes the Talro Creek. It is the main water source for the inhabitants of the Sanctuary, and also a source of food. This keeps the Sanctuary quite self-sufficient. One should take care, however, to venture near the river after the stealing of the Tome as many of the creatures that call it home are not what they used to be.
Great Dili Forest
Before the taking of the Tome, the Great Dili Forest was a lush, green forest that covered the Southern part of Dili. Now the once beautiful forest is a dark and foreboding place where danger lurks around almost every turn. Many of the inhabitants of this place are now corrupted by the Tomes evil power, and those with weaker minds have been driven partly mad by its influence. This forest, however, still holds wonders for those who would dare to seek them out. Sari Sanctuary stands at the edge of Dili Forest, and may still be considered a safe haven for all good adventurers.
Holy Point
The Holy Point is a shrine to the Great Spirit Syrille, who was said to have gifted the Lelani with the knowledge of magic many centuries ago. It is with this magic that the Lelani were able to trap the evil of the world within the dreaded Tome. To the uninitiated, this place is nothing but a hill with some standing stones. To the Lelani, it is a place of power, and fledgling Lelani make their way here to be “tested” before being granted the honor to guard or possess the Tome. This dangerous process will grant wondrous and useful powers, and should only be undertaken by the truly prepared.
Lema Bay
One of the few ports left unscathed by the unnatural storms and waves that have plagued coastal cities, The Lema bay provides the city of Limpai with fish and trade ships. Unfortunately, danger still lurks in the form of vicious pirates who take advantage of these calm waters.
Limpai
The city of Limpai is the capitol of Dili, ruled by King Jemamir. It is a small city, but contains all of the necessities that a traveler passing through may need. Though Jemamir is King, he generally leaves the enforcement of law and order to the Lelani, who hold a post at the city. The spell that the Lelani cast kept the city safe for years, but now with the taking of the Tome the Lelani have left the city, leaving it open to attack from the dark denizens of the Anda Woodlands directly to the West. It is said that the King smiles very kindly on those who help the city with these recent troubles.
Ruins of Meli
A great peninsula stretches out into the sea upon which lie the Ruins of Meli. These ruins stand as a monument to this once great city which was destroyed in the battle of the dreaded Tome many years ago. The inhabitants of the city were quite wealthy, as Meli was a major port in Deli for trade, and the ruins are sometimes the target of treasure-hunters. Although the city now lies in ruins, it is said that there may still be people dwelling there. Few would know for sure, for the ruins have been taken over by creatures that call the sea coast their home. Now, only the truly brave or foolish soul would dare journey there.
Sari Sanctuary
The Sari Sanctuary is the main settlement in Dili, and is the home of the Lelani, a great race of magical warriors that inhabit the land. Though it is relatively small, Sari has all of the necessary shops and items for the traveler or adventurer, and the inhabitants are friendly and offer good advice, often offering their own beds as a resting place for the weary. The Great Temple to the north of the Sanctuary is the resting place of the infamous Tome, the book that contains the evils of the world. The book contains many dark secrets and has a strange influence over the minds of those nearby. Only the Lelani are said to be immune from this effect, a power granted to them by the Great Spirit Syrille, spirit of protection.
Talro Creek
To the south of Sari Sanctuary, the Enochi River dwindles and becomes the Talro Creek.
The Golden Hut
A few travelers who have journeyed into the deepest parts of the Dili Forest have reported glimpsing what appeared to be a small golden hut through the trees. Reaching the hut, however, appears to be impossible due to the thickness of the forest surrounding it. It appears as if the forest itself prevents travelers from reaching the hut. Due to the relatively few sightings of this structure, there are many who wave it off as simply a myth.
Thulu Mountains
The Thulu Mountains are an impassible range of mountains stretching from the Northeast of Dili to the Sari Sanctuary. The Thulus separate Edori into East and west, and the only way around them is far to the north.
Finally better
I was sick over the weekend… I finally feel a bit better.
Had some time to do a few more Chai sprites, as well as a load of programming… my favorite is the green blob.
Chai is liked, I guess
I posted my Chai template on RMRK (crankeye.com), and the moderator was impressed. He wants to add them to the gallery there, so I said ok.
New sprites today… and the tiles are developing nicely.
Peter Murphy Event
I was planning on attending as a VIP a secret recording session with Peter Murphy in the Catskills on Thursday night, but it appears that he is very ill and the show has been canceled. I’m disappointed, but I hope he’s ok all the same.
Tome Screenshots
Here are a few more screenshots from my work in progress:
Did some more work on the Chai RPG Maker tilesets for The Tome today… thought I’d upload a screenshot:
New Tilesets
I completed a couple of RPG maker XP tilesets over the weekend… both were styled for my Chai sprite template. One is an outdoor forest set, and the other a village house interior.
Both can be seen in the top-down tiles section of game resources. If you use, use with permission/credit!
New Site Content
jeffreyjene.com:Â The resources section under gamemaking now has content! I am gathering together both used and unused sprites and tiles that I have created over the years, and I will continue to post them as they come. Things might get a bit messy, as some of these sprites and tiles are hard to categorize. There sure is a lot of unfinished stuff in my backup drives…
Web Site Work
Worked on the personal site quite a bit this weekend… added the games section (Flash and Game Maker) along with a cool flash movie viewer. Also added a rollover pixel art gallery that took the better part of two days to research and develop. It’s working out quite nicely! Next will come Angels Terrace, there’s a lot of work and development to do there….